The Voice South Africa is back with season three and as the Blind Auditions kicked off, already Capetonians are frontrunners to win the show.
On Sunday night, three Kaapse contestants made it through to the next round.
The show has a brand-new look, with a new host Anele Mdoda, and three new coaches in the form of Riana Nel, Riky Rick and Francois van Coke, who are joining Lira.
The Blind Auditions are considered the most nerve-wracking and the most entertaining part of the show, where coaches sit with their backs to the stage to listen to the quality of the voices of the contestants without being influenced by their looks or age.
If they like what they hear, they push the buzzer to turn their chairs, and the contestant chooses which coach he or she wants to work with.
IMPRESSED: Lira. Photo: SUPPLIED
Lira was the first to turn her chair for 36-year-old Durbanville construction worker, Petro de Villiers, who performed Beyoncé’s hit, If I Were a Boy.
“I couldn’t let you go home, you need to be on this show,” Lira said.
Petro has been performing at the Barnyard Theatre for 10 years.
“I’m looking forward to the whole experience and learning from the professionals,” she tells the Daily Voice.
“When Lira hit that red button for me on the last note of my song, it felt amazing!”
Session guitarist Keanu Harker, 22, from Belhar, brought some funk with Bruno Mars’ Treasure and earned a turn from Riky Rick, followed closely by Francois van Coke.
FUNKY: Keanu Harker, 22, of Belhar.Photo: SUPPLIED
Francois complimented Keanu on his guitar skills and dance moves but in the end he went with Riky.
“I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone, as well as to show children in my communities that all things are possible and if you work hard you’ll be able to do anything you put your mind to,” says Keanu.
The third Capetonian to make it through was Sade Ross, 29, who works as a singing waitress at Stardust restaurant in the CBD.
The Grassy Park singer spoke courageously about her struggles with anxiety and depression.
She became the first member of #TeamFrancois after her delivery of Sia’s Chandelier.
EXCITED: Petro de Villiers of Durbanville.Photo: SUPPLIED
An excited Sade says: “I was astounded by the talent I was surrounded with but felt humbled by how accepting they were.
“The production team work extremely hard and are the unsung heroes of the show.”
The Voice South Africa airs on M-Net 101 every Sunday at 5.30pm and is repeated on VUZU, Channel 116, on Mondays at 8pm.